Who killed Citizen Ozuah?

WHEN criminals stormed Lagos killing all the way on September 9, an irate Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Dahiru Abubakar, accused his men of napping, while criminals made hay. Eleven days later on September 20, a worrisome image of the police in Lagos re-emerged: the disturbing possibility of killer cops on the prowl.

That about sums up the tragedy of Citizen Ugochukwu Ozuah, 36; who wedded on Saturday, but was felled the following Thursday. Our hearts must go out to Joan, the late Ozuah’s six-day wife; and the Ozuah family, for this grave tragedy. But the question is: who did it?

The late Ozuah’s family claim it was the police, some trigger-happy or nervy operative or operatives who shot dead a defenceless citizen, under the cover of darkness. But the police have maintained it was indeed armed robbers, firing from a sports utility van (SUV). Who is telling the truth? A thorough investigation should provide an answer.

Still, the murder story is bizarre. The late Ozuah was dropping off Erikefe Omene, who had come on a congratulatory visit to the newlyweds, to get a taxi cab, outside an estate in Gbagada, Lagos, where he lived. On alighting from the car with his friend, a shot rang out, following a piercing cry of “who goes there”?, according to newspaper reports. The bullets reportedly pierced Ozuah’s body and he fell. The report also mentioned another car parked around the same spot, which was approached by figures suspected to be the police on patrol duty. The occupants of that car also reportedly scrambled for cover behind Ozuah’s car, after the shooting.

Now, who fired that shot? The police claimed it was armed robbers. But the police claim is curious. If indeed armed robbers shot Ozuah, and the police were nearby, would the most logical thing not be rushing the victim to the hospital to save his life? But curiously the police personnel there preferred first briefing the Anthony Village, Lagos Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to reportedly alert him on the shooting. Now, was this a grave error of judgement or deliberate and a culpable attempt at cover-up?

More gravely, from the time the call went to the DPO and when he made a hurried arrival at the shooting scene, the victim bled. It was only when Omene (who had fled back in panic into Ozuah’s estate to alert Joan, his new wife) that Ozuah’s wife insisted her husband be rushed to the hospital. But it was too late. Another priceless life of a citizen had been wilfully wasted.

Also thanks to Omene, an eye witness like the police operatives on patrol, an apparent crafty rearrangement of the sequel of the tragic event is being challenged. Indeed, Omene pointedly told the DPO that his men, not any armed robbers, shot his friend. Although the DPO countered otherwise, it would appear that but for Omene’s presence, a radically different story about the death of an innocent man would have been sold to the public.

This is indeed a tragedy of monumental proportions. A man got married on Saturday and was killed on Thursday! Yes, accidents do occur, but this particular death is callous and unjustified: Joan enjoyed her marriage for a cumulative six days before becoming a widow – and this, in 21stcentury Lagos, not in some lawless jungle! This is absolutely unacceptable.

That is why the authorities must launch full-scale investigation into the matter, and ferret out the truth.